Requires State Police to develop public database of criminally charged or convicted undocumented immigrants.
Assembly Bill 5144, titled the "Right to Know Act," would require the New Jersey State Police to create and maintain a publicly accessible database of certain people in custody who are both criminally charged or convicted and lack valid documentation to be in the United States. The list would apply only to individuals currently held in state, county, or municipal correctional facilities.
For each person included, the database would have to display a photograph, the crime charged or convicted, and the location and date of release from custody. The bill takes effect immediately and would place the State Police in charge of compiling and updating the information.
The bill would add a new statutory requirement in Title 53 of the Revised Statutes directing the State Police to build and maintain a public-facing database tied to immigration status and criminal justice custody. It would affect the State Police, correctional facilities, and individuals who are both in custody and alleged or found to be undocumented, while also creating a public disclosure mechanism for arrest, conviction, and release information.
No committee transcript or recorded vote is available in the provided material, so there is no documented legislative debate or vote history to gauge support or opposition. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears designed to emphasize public notice and transparency regarding undocumented immigrants in custody, which suggests a law-and-order framing. However, the absence of discussion records means the level of support or concern among legislators cannot be determined from the available context.
The main point of contention is likely to be the public disclosure of personal and immigration-related information, including photographs and release details, for people who are merely charged as well as those convicted. Supporters would likely argue the database promotes public safety and transparency, while opponents may raise privacy, due process, and civil liberties concerns, especially because the bill targets undocumented immigrants and includes people who have only been charged with a crime. The requirement that the State Police verify immigration status and maintain the list could also raise administrative and accuracy concerns.